Emma WildesKirja-arvosteluja

Crime

Three short stories. Very quick and enjoyable read.

Desde su infancia, Julianne Sutton sabía que se casaría con el marqués de Longhaven tal como años atrás habían concertado sus respectivas familias. Harry, el amable y divertido heredero del título, se convertiría en su marido y ambos vivirían felices.
Sin embargo, con la inesperada muerte de Harry, su hermano Michael hereda no solamente el título, sino también la obligación de casarse con la prometida de su hermano. Tras regresar de la guerra en Francia, Michael se encarga ahora de una peligrosa misión de espionaje que ha de mantener en secreto y está decidido a que su matrimonio no se interponga. Michael es un experto en el arte del engaño pero Julianne, con su inteligencia y dotes de observación, descubrirá quién es su marido en realidad...

Puede que Alexander St. James sea un ladrón de corazones, pero no es un ladrón. Sin embargo, debe recuperar un objeto robado perteneciente a su familia para evitar un escándalo, y así entra en casa de lord Hathaway… solo para encontrarse con la cautivadora y casta lady Amelia en su dormitorio, con poco más que la expresión de sorpresa de su rostro.
Amelia se queda sin aliento con Alex, pero ¿es de miedo o de excitación? Cautivado por su belleza y encantado por su intelecto, ignora los rumores de escándalo mientras se propone seducir a la mujer de sus sueños.

En el Londres de 1812, Rebbeca y Arabella siguen boquiabiertas el relato de su amiga Brianna: un libro prohibido la está instruyendo en el arte de desarmar y enamorar a su elegante, cortés (¡pero tan frío y aburrido!) esposo, empeñado en tratarla como a una pieza de porcelana. Exactamente lo contrario de lo que ella y sus amigas desean de los hombres. ¿Y qué les cuenta Consejos de lady R.? Cosas que no deberían leer, ni mucho menos repetir en voz alta… Cosas muy, muy instructivas… Después de todo, como reza el título de uno de los capítulos de ese librito absurdamente censurado, «Nunca olvidéis que vosotras sabéis mejor que ellos lo que quieren».

Carino e piacevole, una lettura scorrevole, intrigante e avvincente.
Una scommessa scandalosa e sconveniente del tutto inaspettatamente cambierà la vita di due popolari libertini destinati a capitolare alle grazie femminili di due donne decisamente particolari.

Cosa può fare Brianna per far sciogliere il marito Colton, un aristocratico irresistibile ma freddo e troppo rispettoso? La scoperta di un libretto scandaloso sarà la via per dare una forte scossa al suo matrimonio.
Una storia deliziosa e molto carina, ambientata a metà ‘800, con personaggi decisamente intriganti, una lettura decisamente piacevole.
Peccato per alcuni errori decisamente eccessivi nella prima parte.
Effettive quattro stelle e mezzo.½

Londres, 1816. Luke Daudet regresó de la Guerra de Independencia española dispuesto a olvidar aquella cruenta experiencia y todo lo que allí dejó enterrado. La paz y el regreso a Londres han significado para él las obligaciones como cabeza de familia y nuevo vizconde de Altea, pero, sobre todo, las fiestas, las interminables partidas de cartas y los lances amatorios que se desvanecen con la llegada del alba. Hasta que, una noche, recibe un recado urgente de lady Madeline May, la joven viuda con la que vivió una inolvidable noche de pasión y de quien se distanció a la mañana siguiente por razones que jamás le podrá contar.

Una disparatada apuesta entre dos galanes dará lugar a una deliciosa historia de amor muy poco convencional...
Es la comidilla de la ciudad. En plena Regencia, dos aristócratas londinenses: el Dque de Rothay, Nicholas Manning y el Conde de Manderville, Derek Drake, atractivos y conquistadores, se desafían mutuamente para saber cuál de ellos es el mejor amante. Pero, ¿qué mujer de belleza, inteligencia y discernimiento consentiría ser juez de tal concurso?

What does a former spy during the Napoleonic wars do when he gets home? After he becomes the heir to a dukedom? Does he marry his brother's fiancee?

In this story, the Marquess of Longhaven does marry his brother's intended, after his brother's unexpected death. It's a book all about transitions, from single to married, from spying for a living to a more relaxed life, and of learning to care about people, instead of detaching from all emotions.

The clear focus of the book is on the male lead, Michael Hepburn, his journey back from the dark side of war. Julianne Sutton is a worthy foil, but not someone who could ever have been part of his former life.

Well-written, excellent character development.

In the final book of the trilogy, Michael is the last of the three friends to remain unmarried, though that doesn't last long. In the previous books, he is described as enigmatic, controlled, and intense. In this one, we learn a little more about what has made him the man he is now. Michael worked for years as a spy for Wellington in the war against Napoleon. He was called home when his older brother died and took up his duties as the Marquess of Longhaven, including marrying his brother's fiancée. He also continued his work for the Crown, working to tie up loose ends from the war.

Julianne is beautiful, young, and innocent. She seems to be a bit of a pushover at the very beginning, giving in to the change of fiancé with no argument, allowing others to take control of the wedding planning, and so on. But it quickly becomes evident that she is smart, observant, and brave, along with having a kind heart.

I enjoyed watching the development of Michael and Julianne's relationship. It builds slowly as they don't know each other much at all before the wedding. Michael is determined to keep his life separate from Julianne. That doesn't work out too well from the start, as two days before the wedding he was attacked. The injury Michael received was not something that could be hidden on his wedding night, though he did his best to distract her from it. I ached a little for Julianne those first few days after the wedding, as it was clear to her that Michael avoided her during the days. I loved seeing her gently call him out on his actions. She is far more perceptive than Michael expected, and there are some scenes where he must think fast to keep his secrets. Julianne wants more from her marriage than just a physical relationship, and her intuition and attention open Michael's eyes to a whole new concept of marriage. I enjoyed how Michael's increasing fascination with his wife warred with his desire to protect his secrets.

At the same time, Michael is still involved in his work for the Crown. He has experienced several attacks and suspects that the culprit is the French spy who was his nemesis during the war. Assisting him are two fellow spies, Lawrence and Antonia. Things are somewhat awkward with Antonia, as she was Michael's lover several years earlier. He is over it, but she is not. All of them are intent on finding out who is behind the attacks on Michael. It was interesting to see who was following who and why. Michael was also worried about Julianne's safety. Julianne turned out to be hiding a secret of her own and was quite adept at evading observation when she wanted to. As Michael closed in on the person trying to kill him, he discovered an unexpected connection to Julianne. The final confrontation was intense but left one question unanswered.

There was a secondary romance between Lawrence and Antonia. Lawrence's feelings for Antonia were evident from the beginning. I felt bad for him because of her continuing infatuation with Michael. There were times when I didn't like her very much and thought that she was using Lawrence. As the book went on, I was impressed with Lawrence's control as he waited for her to work through her feelings.

The epilogue was well done, with a conversation between Michael and his boss. I did not expect the information that Michael confronted Charles with, and hadn't seen it coming at all. There was also a meeting between Michael and Lawrence. I had to laugh at the advice Michael had for him about dealing with Antonia.

Good book. Madeline and Luke have a brief history of a one night stand a year earlier. The intensity of the encounter threatened Luke's control of his feelings, so he didn't continue the pursuit. Madeline also had trouble forgetting that night, as it broke through her grief over her husband's death. Now Madeline has a problem, and Luke is the only one she feels she can trust to help her.

When Madeline defends herself against a blackmailer, she's horrified to realize she may have killed him. With nowhere else to turn, she sends for Luke. He isn't all that happy to respond to her summons, but he also knows she would only contact him if she were desperate. Despite the circumstances, it is evident that the sparks between them are still there. Once the matter at hand is resolved, Luke knows he should go back to avoiding her, but he can't do it. Instead, he gets involved in retrieving her property, then protecting her from the consequences. In spending time together, the attraction between them flares up again. But Luke is still not interested in marriage, and she doesn't plan to marry again, so Madeline decides to take what she can get, and they begin an affair.

Though she is the one who propositioned him, Madeline quickly realizes that she risks losing her heart to Luke. From his question to her, "Can you promise that you won't die?" she senses that there is something in his past that prevents him from risking his heart. I liked the way that she did not push him, but expressed her love the only way she could. Though he has quite the reputation as a rake, Luke treats Madeline with respect and kindness. He was so torn up by what happened in Spain that he swore he would never risk his heart again. But from the moment of his first encounter with Madeline, Luke sensed that she could put an end to his ability to keep himself emotionally distant from those around him. Once he saw her again, his protectiveness was aroused as well as his attraction to her. Every time he felt himself begin to soften towards her, he reminded himself of why he couldn't go there. Unfortunately for Luke, pulling himself back became harder each time. Before long, he realized that he wanted more.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Luke do things he would never have dreamed of before getting involved with Madeline. Publicly escorting her to various events was one thing, but when he showed up at the opera when she was with her mother and aunt, that made quite a statement. I had to laugh as his friends and family realized his feelings for Madeline long before he would admit them. It took a near-tragedy to break him free of his fears and allow him to open his heart to what they could have together.

Woven throughout the book was the question of how Lord Fitch had gotten his hands on Lord Brewer's journal. Not only did Luke and Madeline try to figure it out themselves, but Luke also asked for help from his friend, Michael. Michael was involved in working Intelligence for the Crown during the war and has continued now that the war is over. His investigation uncovers a possible link between the journal and his pursuit of an English traitor. Michael and Luke feared for Madeline's safety when they figured out who the traitor was. I was on the edge of my seat as they raced to stop the culprit before it was too late.

There was also a fun secondary romance between Luke's sister Elizabeth and their step-cousin, Miles. It was clear from the beginning that Miles had it bad for her, but Elizabeth was utterly oblivious. They had been friends all their lives, though Elizabeth was very good at picking fights with him. Miles had the patience of a saint as he waited for her and put up with her shenanigans. I had to laugh when the light finally went on, and she realized that the antagonism she felt toward him had its roots in attraction. Once she did, there was no holding her back as she put the energy she used to use to tease him into winning her man.

Good book with a little bit of a Romeo and Juliet theme to it. The Patton and St. James families have been at odds for many years, thanks to a scandal involving their grandfathers and Alex's great aunt. The story opens as Alex, under orders from his grandmother, breaks into the Patton's house. He is looking for a key that belongs to his family and must find it to prevent a scandal. He doesn't expect to have his search interrupted by the early return of Lady Amelia. He barely makes it to the balcony of her room before she appears.

Amelia spent her whole life in the country until her father decided it was time for her to marry. Her life was quiet, filled with books and walks. Now she is the Elusive Queen because she doesn't act like the other debutantes. Amelia is an intelligent woman and is frustrated by the dullness of the men her father pushes at her. On this night, she left the ball early and returned home, using her occasional breathing problems as an excuse.

I loved the first meeting between Amelia and Alex. He is hiding on her balcony when she steps out for a breath of air. We immediately see Alex's kindness and sensitivity, as he witnesses what he thinks may be the beginning of a fainting spell. Amelia is understandably startled by his presence but doesn't react with the fright he expected. I enjoyed their exchange as he reassures her he isn't there to either rob them or assault her. He does say that "in the spirit of being an effective burglar, I should steal something. A kiss comes to mind..." Neither one expected it to be something so unforgettable.

I loved the development of Alex and Amelia's relationship. From that first kiss, they shared a connection that neither could deny. It was fun to see her aunt's dismay as Amelia pointed Alex out at the next ball and asked who he was. Alex has a reputation as a rake, one that is more inherited than deserved, though it is convenient at times. Amelia finds him far more interesting than the men her father recommends. At the same time, Alex is fascinated by Amelia's intelligence and wit. Another encounter in the dark ended in a steamier kiss that was interrupted by Amelia's aunt. I enjoyed Amelia's conversation with Aunt Sophia as she makes her interest in Alex clear. Amelia may be innocent, but she knows what she wants. Alex surprises himself with his unwavering interest in her, despite the obstacles.

I loved seeing them find ways to spend time together and get to know each other. For a supposed rake, Alex's behavior is quite honorable. They are further drawn together when each of them receives mysterious letters. Amelia gets letters written by Alex's great-aunt Anna, the one who had an affair with Amelia's married grandfather. Alex receives letters written by her grandfather to Anna. Alex and Amelia work together to figure out the connection between the notes, their relatives, and the mysterious key. As their feelings for each other grow, they hope their families will let bygones be bygones, so that they can marry.

I ached for Alex here, because he is such an honorable man that he attempts to ask Amelia's father for her hand. He suspects it won't go well, but he has to try. I loved the advice he got from his brother, his friend, and even Amelia's aunt. I had to laugh at his appearance at the dressmaker's and what he did with all that advice. Their arrival at his family's home was everything I'd hoped it would be, especially with Alex's brother and sister-in-law. It's there that all of the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, revealing a heartbreaking tale of star-crossed lovers.

The secondary characters were also well done. Alex's two friends, Luke and Michael, share Alex's war experiences, binding their friendship even closer. I liked how both were ready to help Alex with whatever he needed. I loved Amelia's Aunt Sophia, who played the part of Amelia's chaperone. Her decisions when it came to Amelia and Alex were unexpected, promoting love over propriety. Sophia also had a romance of her own simmering in the background. I liked her beau, Richard, for the way he treated her and supported her. He also provided an unexpected twist in the story.

The Best Mistake is a wonderfully unconventional romance with a surprising amount of depth. Kate Watterson takes the story in an unexpected but delightful direction. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/01/16/the-best-mistake/

3.5 stars.

Blindsided by Kate Watterson is a fast-paced mystery.

Fleeing her stalker, Cadence Lawrence ignores the weather report and finds herself stranded in the midst of a heavy snowstorm. Despite her uneasiness, she has no choice but to accompany her unexpected rescuer Mick McCutcheon to his upscale but rustic cabin. Cadence trusts her instincts where Mick is concerned and she eventually opens up about why she left home. Mick feels protective of Cadence and once the roads are clear, he goes with her when she returns to her regular life. Still worried about her safety, Cadence agrees to meet with FBI Agent Thea Benedict and Detective Kirkland to discuss her long missing childhood friend Melissa Dewitt's cold case. Certain the same man who is responsible for Melissa's disappearance is also her stalker, Cadence remains afraid for her life. Can Mick, Thea and Kirkland keep her safe? Or will she become his next victim?

Cadence is an orthopedic surgeon who has still not gotten over Melissa's disappearance thirteen years earlier. She is convinced Melissa's boyfriend, Dirk Lyons, murdered her when she tried to end their relationship. The case has long grown cold but when Cadence accidentally crosses paths with Dirk again, she is certain he is stalking her. When she stumbles across a listening device, Cadence grows even more fearful of his next move.

FBI Agent Thea Benedict is working at the behest of a Texas Congressman who is certain Dirk is involved with his daughter's unexplained disappearance. Thea is eager to work the case since she has her own reasons for locating Dirk. Harboring suspicions Dirk might be a serial killer, she begins searching for other possible victims. Her research pays off and there is now greater urgency to locate him. But Dirk has plenty of practice covering his tracks so Thea and Detective Kirkland cannot help but wonder if they will find him before he kills again.

The mystery aspect of the storyline is a bit overshadowed by Cadence's and Mick's burgeoning romance. Mick is a charming man and Cadence feels safe with him, but her independent nature is sometimes at war with his need to protect her. Their relationship has an insta-love vibe to it since they do not know each other long before declaring their love to one another. They are a cute couple but the balance between romance and suspense is definitely tilted more toward their newfound love especially since there really is not any mystery surrounding who is after Cadence.

Blindsided is an engaging mystery but some of dialogue is a little stilted and the characters could be better developed. The premise of the novel is interesting but the story lacks much suspense. Without much fanfare, Kate Watterson brings the novel to a satisfying (but a bit predictable) conclusion. Enjoyable but definitely more romance than mystery.

Blindsided by Kate Watterson has been a difficult read. Dr. Cadence Lawrence accidentally crosses paths with a man she had accused of murdering her best friend ten years before. Feeling like her life might be in jeopardy, she leaves her medical practice and her home, only to be snowbound in Wisconsin, where she is rescued by a handsome stranger who brings her to his country home. And that is when the plot becomes bogged down with inane dialogue and unrealistic storylines. The book blurb describes it as a thriller, which is what led me to read it. However, suspenseful romance best describes it. The plot promises an interesting murder mystery but, unfortunately, it evolves into an unrealistic romance. The dialogue often lapses into areas that have nothing to do with the story. If romance novels are your preference, you may enjoy this novel. Please note that this is only my opinion. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Blindsided:A Mystery
by Kate Watterson
2019
Crooked Lane
3.5/5.0

#netgalley. #Blindsided

This is a mystery entwined with a romance and for me it just didn't work. I loved the cover and the storyline sounded good, so I requested it. The story begins well. The mystery part was really good but found the romance to be distracting and made the story less cohesive, for me.
The main problem I found, were the characters lacked any personality or color, and seemed flat and dry. I found it hard to engage in either of them, the story never seem to flow. The conversations were not for me.
The plot....a woman is caught in a whiteout snowstorm, where her car gets stuck, stalls and will not start. Her phone is dead and there is no one in sight. Sounds good, right?
Then Mick comes along, and offers help and a place to stay until the storm clears....and that's when the story it starts to fail...
I do think Watterson is clever and will look forward to her next publication, but this one just left me wanting more.
Thanks Crooked Lane and the author for sending this e-book ARC.½

Quick easy and enjoyable read. This is my first book by the author. I am going to look at her back list now.

I really enjoyed the book. Having the multiple storylines made the book that much better. This is my second book the author and I can't wait to read another one.

Good story and flowed smoothly. Held my interest. Interesting characters. My first time reading Kate Watterson but I will read more by this author. It's actually one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. This is a new author and I loved this book. I wondered right up until the end if the police had gotten the "right" person!

3.75

3.5
Gostei mais do Ben e da Alicia, estou desejosa de os rever no próximo livro :)

Opinião completa: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.pt/2016/01/livro-um-encontro-muito-ousado-de-emma.h...

Para começar, gosto bastante da Emma Wildes, mas tenho vindo a achar que os últimos livros dela têm perdido qualidade. Porém, este trouxe-a de volta à sua antiga glória.

Começo por dizer que este livro tinha muitas cenas sexuais, já não lia um assim há algum tempo, e apesar de achar que sexo a mais (ou a menos) pode estragar o seguimento de uma história, nesta apenas apimentou o enredo.

Joshua, o nosso protagonista, e os seus amigos Liam e Michael, são três jovens nobres que têm segredos e passados feridos devido a problemas amorosos. John foi alvo de um escândalo amoroso e, ao tentar proteger a sua irmã Emily mesma sorte, acaba por se ver ligado a Charity, a melhor amiga desta e alguém que desde o início da sua adolescência tinha uma paixoneta por ele.
(...)
Só tenho uma coisa a apontar a este livro: a resolução dos problemas que foram aparecendo foi demasiado rápida. Não vou dizer o que se interpôs na felicidade dos protagonistas mas digo que poderia ter existido uma história, até uma aventura muito mais intrigante do que o resultado final apresentado, que me pareceu que foi resolvido num estalar de dedos e, sinceramente de forma algo exagerada.

Mas isso acaba por passar ao lado, com um livro tão sensual e fácil de ler como este foi. Sem dúvida, Emma Wildes recuperou a sua qualidade a meu ver, com este romance que me prendeu da primeira à última página.

I got this copy from Netgalley.com
The Best Mistake
By Kate Watterson
Quick but good read. Lacey comes home and thinks to put the moves on her boyfriend only it’s his cousin (who looks a lot like him). The difficult decision to live a ménage lifestyle was handled well. The boyfriend was supportive and wanting her happiness which is necessary in these relationships. That the author addressed Lacey’s apprehension was good to read. I liked that I got all 3 POV’s.
This was my first read by Kat Watterson, I will read more.

My Lord Scandal was the perfect non-angsty historical I didn't realize I was craving. And it had a smart heroine. So I have to give kudos to Ms. Wildes because I like her heroines. Think of saucy, take charge Brianna from Secrets from a Scarlet Lady. Amelia Patton wasn't as take charge, but she was direct, didn't act coy and although she knew she shouldn't be attracted to Alex, she just couldn't help herself so she went for it full-throttle. Why couldn't she be with him? Well! Amelia's grandfather was married and having an affair with a debutante - who happened to be Alex's grandfather's sister. It wasn't widely known, but the debutante committed suicide because she couldn't be with the man she loved and Alex's grandfather killed Amelia's in a duel.

What does this have to do with anything? Alex's grandmother wants him to find something that is in Patton's family's possession but doesn't belong to them, it belongs to the St. James's. So in an effort to take it back stealthily, Alex breaks into Amelia's home while the Patton's are at a ball and starts looking around. Unbeknownst to him, Amelia has returned early from the ball and is in her room - which is the point of entry for his little break in. So he tries to sneak out and is trapped on Amelia's balcony, with a front row seat to her undressing. When she comes out onto the balcony and appears faint, Alex comes forward to offer assistance. He scares her, but Amelia is quickly intrigued by him even being there and gets over her fear. Alex cannot help himself and kisses Amelia before he leaves. Amelia is curious about her visitor but because she's a smart heroine, she knows she'll see him again - she can tell he's quality people. When Amelia next sees Alex and asks her aunt who he is, she finds out that he is not to be acknowledged, spoken to or be near him, ever. For a woman like Amelia, that's like throwing gasoline on a flame - and that's exactly what happens when these two get near each other.

I thought My Lord Scandal was delicious. Emma's writing is very enjoyable and this book was no exception. The characters were good. They were practical, smart and interesting. Not just Alex and Amelia, but the secondary characters too. There was a cute second romance plot that I enjoyed. I also liked that the conflict wasn't too angst-ridden. Yeah an old family feud is somewhat of a barrier, but not to two people who didn't really know those involved and acknowledge that they want to be together. Yay for strong-willed lovers! Also, I thought the whole family feud bit was interesting! There is a bit of a mystery in regards to letters between the two dead lovers and I had the wrong character in mind!

As you can see, there is a lot that is good with My Lord Scandal. I enjoyed it and can't wait to read the second book.